(B)Reckless Driving

Finally I had decided to get my tickets cancelled. I decided to wake up at 7 so that I may reach the place before 8, when the counters opened (I had to go to Besant Nagar, about 6-7 km from IIT). I set the alarm for 6:30 and slept.

I was woken up by a call from home. After that, I checked the watch. It was 7:50. Counters opened at 8. By now, there must be a huge queue. An alternative came to me: how about going in the evening? But no, I had already wasted a day, I won’t further stretch this matter.  Get it done with once and for all.

Next step was asking for cycles in the wing. The few who had couldn’t lend me – they had urgent classes and 7:50 (now 7:56) was late to walk for 8 o’ clock class. Bachcha gave me his cycle. But there was a problem: no brakes!

I had little choice. I took the cycle and started. Those were not IIT campus roads but city roads with people in bikes and cars rushing for morning work. Man, that was a ride! There were roads that make you feel you are enjoying downhill biking. But this was a cycle without brakes.

On such a road, a bus suddenly came up to my behind and startled me. The driver wanted to rush ahead of me. There was another bus parked some distance ahead. I tried to cycle fast to avoid being between the two, but couldn’t.  And the next instant, I found myself between cycling with buses on either side of me. I had gained speed because of the slope. Before the bus could move ahead, an old man came in front of me. Gone! That was my first thought. Where could I go? Bus to the left of me, bus to the right of me, old man in front of me, and I was still speeding on the slope on a brakeless cycle!

The next moment my hands did some strange acrobatic movements to turn the cycle and I managed to avoid the old man. Saved!

Similar thing happened again. And again. Thrice!!

Somehow, I reached the place safely, got my ticket cancelled after 4o minutes of wait, and started for the return trip. Now, the traffic seemed o have increased three-fold.  I was steering my way through a very busy area. I had to turn right at a signal. But the heavy traffic carried me straight. After some time on the straight road, when the vehicles stopped, I turned back and resumed my journey.

There, another nasty incident was waiting for me. I was slower this time, trying to stay away from buses and cars. Suddenly, a bike appeared before me from a left road. My fingers tried to brake, but there was no brake! This time I couldn’t avoid it. I collided with the rear of the bike and the lady sitting there almost fell. She started mouthing something in Tamil that I couldn’t decipher. But before the driver could say anything, I ran away from the scene.

After a long time, I reached IIT gate. Phew! Now, it was a cakewalk.